Stapler

ABSTRACT

A portable stapling apparatus having a closable housing which includes upper and lower cover members hingedly connected adjacent one end of the housing, which cover members when in a closed position define a closed chamber in which is positioned a stapling means. The stapling means includes a staple holding magazine and a staple base portion disposed for relative pivotal movement toward one another to permit a staple to be inserted into a selected article. The staple magazine and the base portion are each pivotally connected to the upper cover member whereby the magazine and base portion are pivotal relative to both the upper and lower cover members. A resilient pressing and driving mechanism is disposed between the upper cover and the magazine for permitting ejection of the endmost staple in the magazine. Further, a removable cartridge means is mounted in the upper cover for storing therein a plurality of spare staples.

0 1, Unite States Patent [151 3,649,943 ltagaki 1451 Feb, 8, 1972 [54] STAPLER 2,973,519 3/1961 Jepp ..22.7/l28 [72] inventor: Kenlchl ltagaki, Takasakl-shi, Japan Primary Emminer cranvme Y Custer, Jr. [73] Assignee: Max Corporation, Tokyo, Japan Att0mey-Woodhams, Blanchard & Flynn [22] Filed: Dec. 12, 1969 [57] ABSTRACT [2]] Appl' 884664 A portable stapling apparatus having a closable housing which I includes upper and lower cover members hingedly connected [30] Foreign Application Priority Data adjacent one end of the housing, which cover members when in a closed position define a closed chamber in which is posi- Dec. 26, 1968 Japan Ail/94992 tioned a stapling mean The stapling means includes a staple holding magazine and a staple base portion disposed for rela- [52] US. Cl ..227/ll20, 227/l27 live pivotal movemam toward one another to permit a Staple [51] lnt.Cl ..B2Sc5/02 tobeinsenedimoaselectedarticle Thesta lem azineand [58] Field of Search ..227/l20 127 128 p as the base portion are each plvotally connected to the upper cover member whereby the magazine and base portion are [56] References Cited pivotal relative to both the upper and lower cover members. A UNITED STATES PATENTS resilient pressing and driving mechanism is between the upper cover and the magma for penmttlng ejfiCflOll of 2,286, l Pankonm the endmost taple in the magazine Further a removable car- 2,328,983 9/1943 Place v 120 X tridge means is mounted in the upper cover for storing therein 2,51 1,944 6/1950 Richards ..227/128 a plurality f Spare Staples 2,697,831 l2/ 1964 Neumayer... 227/120 X 2,726,393 12/1955 Vogel ..227/l28 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 26 v21 1, 1 C 1 A \g i I B 4n t K) 2823 I3 28 r)r--i-' Hale 1e *fl 1 WW -7-7////t-/k/ Y PATENTEU FEB 8 I972 3,640,443

sum 1] or 4 FIG. 8

4 i 24 Hi It! I 8 l ""7 1 l U v H I I INVENTOR /fc/V/C/9 /73464/f/ BY MMAM fi/zw ATTORNEYS PATENTED FEB 8 I372 SHEEF 2 (IF 4 FIG.3

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INVENTOR Kf/V/CWI /7464A/ 'BY M,

ATTORNEYS PATENTEU FEB 8|972 3.640.443

saw u or 4 4TTO 4 6 45 STAPLER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved portable stapler and in particular relates to a stapler which is mounted within a closable housing, with the lower portion of the housing being pivotably movable to a nonclosed position for permitting utilization of the stapler. The stapler includes in the upper or cover portion of the housing a removable cartridge for storing extra staples.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable stapler.

The first object of the present invention is to provide a new handy type of stapler which is convenient to carry and which includes a closeable housing for preventing damage to the working parts of the stapler.

The second object of the present invention is to provide a new handy type stapler having a decorative appearance and which can be more easily produced than conventional staplers.

The third object of the present invention is to provide a new structure wherein the staple driving plate is not fixed but is connected by means of a removable cartridge.

The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a new spare staple containing device.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide a new stapler wherein the staple transmission rod is made of elastic matter and the attachment of the pin transmission device can be done conveniently.

The present invention thus relates to a stapler apparatus comprising a base, a channel-shaped cover hingedly connected to the base, and stapling means disposed between the cover and the base for permitting insertion of a staple into a selected article upon pivotal movement of the cover toward the base. The stapling means including a driving plate means having a spring portion formed on one end thereof and a sta ple driving portion formed on the other end thereof. A removable cartridge means is disposed between the plate means and the upper inside of said cover, the cartridge means having a compartment for storing a plurality of spare staples therein.

The present invention also relates to a stapler apparatus which includes housing means having upper and lower cover members adapted to be fitted together to form a closed chamber, hinge means located adjacent one end of the housing means and interconnecting adjacent edges of the upper and lower cover members for permitting relative pivotal movement of the cover members away from one another, and stapling means disposed within the housing means for permitting a staple to be injected into a selected article when the housing means is in an open condition. The stapling means includes an upper pressing portion having a magazine adapted to contain a plurality of staples therein, and a base portion pivotally interconnected to the pressing portion for permitting relative pivotal movement between the magazine and the base portion. Means pivotally interconnect the base portion relative to the lower cover member for permitting the lower cover member to be rotated away from the base portion and away from the upper cover member for permitting operation of said stapling means. The base portion is disposed within the lower cover member when the housing means is in a closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is the vertical central sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the cross sectional view of the upper cover taken along line A-A' of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is the cross sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cartridge for storing spare staples.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the staple driving plate.

FIG. 7 is the cross sectional view taken along line CC' of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 shows the structure of the staple feed device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the stapler in an open, operative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As illustrated in the attached drawings, the present invention relates to a stapling apparatus comprising a frame or magazine 1 for storing therein a row of conventional channelshaped staples, which magazine I when viewed in cross section (FIG. 4) resembles a downwardly opening channelshaped member. The magazine 1 has a staple feeding mechanism F positioned therein for longitudinally advancing the staples along the magazine. A base 2 is disposed for coaction with the magazine I, and a spring 3 is positioned between the base 2 and the magazine 1 for normally resiliently maintaining same in the inoperative position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 9.

The stapling means is disposed within a closeable housing which includes an upper cover 4 shaped in the form of a box and constructed of plastic, such as polypropylene. A pair of downwardly extending projections 5 (FIGS. 2 and 4) are united to opposite sides of the upper cover 4 adjacent the rear end thereof, and the rearward end of the magazine I and the rearward end of the base 2 are connected to the projections 5 by means of a hinge pin 6.

The housing also includes a lower cover 7, the rear end of which is connected to the upper cover 4 by a thin plastic hinge strip 8. The lower cover 7 is made of the same plastic material as the upper cover 4, and is shaped in the form of a box, capable of containing the magazine 1 and the base 2, and also capable of being releasably snap locked into the upper cover 4 due to the covers 4 and 7 being provided with overlapping lips on the edges thereof as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

A staple driving plate 9 is positioned in the upper cover 4 and has the end portion thereof bent downwards to form a driving piece 10 which is adapted to coact with the magazine I for ejecting the endmost staple therefrom. The rear portion of plate 9 is bent downwards to form the pushup spring portion 11. The middle portion of the staple driving plate 9 hasrecesses 12, 12' formed therein as shown in FIG. 6, and projections 13, 13' extend downwardly adjacent the rear ends of the recesses for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

The staple feed device F is made of plastic and, as shown in FIG. 8, includes a staple pusher 16 having a hole 14 therethrough, the central portion 15 of which is of reduced size. An elastic staple guide rod 18 is provided having a convex enlargement 17 on one end of said rod and the other end 19 of the rod is shaped in a concave form. A staple pushing spring 20 surrounds the rod and slidably urges pusher 16 toward the end 17.

The stapler also includes a cartridge or holder 21 having an elongated chamber 22 therein for storing spare staples. Projections 23, 23' are provided on the lower surface of the holder 21 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

A lid 24 is united to the front portion of the holder 21 through a thin hinge portion 25, and a detentlike projection 26 is provided on the lower portion of the lid 24 to hold same in the closed position (FIG. 2).

ASSEMBLY AND OPERATION The projecting tongues 5 of the upper cover 4 are pivotally connected to the magazine I and the base 2 by means of the pin 6, and the upper cover 4 and the lower cover 7 are connected at the rear ends thereof by the hinge 8. This arrangement permits the housing covers 4 and 7 to be tightly closed so that dirt will be prevented from entering the interior of the housing even if it is carried in a pocket, bag or desk. Even when it hits other articles, the operating parts of the stapler will be protected from damage. When the stapler of the present invention is to be used, the lower cover 7 is disconnected from the upper cover 4 and is rotated in the counterclockwise direction into the position shown in FIG. 9, whereby the magazine 1 and the base 2 are exposed. The workpiece to be stapled, such as paper or the like, is inserted between the magazine I and the base 2, and when the upper cover 4 is pressed downwardly relative to the base 2, the staple driving plate 9 is lowered, and stapling can be smoothly carried out.

The stapler of the present invention can be easily assembled by making the upper cover 4 and the lower cover 7 out of plastic such as polypropylene, and therefore in accordance with the present invention it is possible to provide a handy stapler which is economical and good looking and is capable of carrying decorative designing,

Moreover, in accordance with the present invention the staple driving plate 9 is held by the pairs of opposed projections 28 and 28, which projections are formed on the sidewalls 27 of the upper cover 4 and extend inwardly under the plate 9. The projections 13, 13' on the plate 9 extend downwardly between the projections 28, 28' to hold the plate 9 in position. The cartridge 21 is forcibly inserted through the opening 4' in the front end of the upper cover 4 between the upper surface of the staple driving plate 9 and the upper internal side of the upper cover 4, and the projections 23, 23' on the holder 21 are inserted into the recesses l2, 12 of the staple driving plate 9 to hold the staple driving plate 9 and cartridge 21 in position, Therefore, it is not necessary to use any special fixed members, and in addition, the plate 9 can be accurately attached to the plastic cover 4.

The downwardly extending driving member of the driving plate 9 is provided with an opening 10' therein, into which extends the bent front end portion 1' of the magazine 1, whereby the free ends of the magazine 1 and driving plate 9 are interconnected. However, due to the vertical height of the opening 10, the driving member 10 can move downwardly into the magazine to permit ejection of the endmost staple in a conventional manner.

In addition to the above, in accordance with the present invcntion, the staple guide rod 18 is preferably made of elastic material such as polypropylene, and therefore the staple feed device F can be conveniently inserted into the magazine 1, and the assemblage of the respective members can be easily done in such a manner that after having inserted pushing spring 20 onto the rod 18, the end 17 of rod 18 is inserted through opening 15 to connect rod 18 to the staple pusher 16. The elastic restorability of the convex end 17 of the staple pusher transmitter 16 permits these two elements to be forcibly connected. The other end of rod 18 has a recess 31 therein which receives therein the pivot pin 6 whereby the guide rod [8 is properly positioned within the magazine.

lclaim:

l. A stapler apparatus, comprising a base, a downwardly opening, substantially channel-shaped cover hingedly connected to said base, stapling means disposed between said cover and said base for permitting insertion of a staple into a selected article upon pivotal movement of said cover toward said base, said stapling means including a driving plate having a spring portion formed on one end thereof and a staple driving portion formed on the other end thereof, and holder means disposed between said plate and the upper inside surface of said cover for storing a plurality of spare staples therein.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cover has inwardly extending projections formed on the sidewalls thereof, said plate having a central portion supported on said projections for interconnecting said plate to said cover, and said holder means being supported on said central portion of said plate whereby said spring portion of said plate resiliently holds said holder means between said central portion and the upper inside surface of said cover.

3. In a stapler apparatus having a base, a staple-holding magazine hingedly mounted on the base by a hinge pin, a cover also hingedly mounted on the base and disposed above the magazine, and a staple feed mechanism disposed within the magazine, the improvement wherein the feed mechanism includes a staple pushing member slideably disposed within the magazine and having an opening extending therethrough, and an elongated flexible staple guide rod constructed of plastic material and having one end thereof extending into the opening of said pushing member for permitting relative sliding movement therebetween, said one end of said rod being enlarged to prevent separation of said pushing member from said guide rod, and the other end of said guide rod having a recess formed therein for permitting said guide rod to be longitudinally slideably moved into engagement with and hingedly supported on said hinge pin, said hinge pin also hingedly connecting said magazine and said cover to said base.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cover has an opening in the front thereof, and closure means hingedly connected to the front end of said holder means adjacent said front end of said cover for covering the opening in said front end of said cover.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stapling means also includes a staple storage magazine disposed between said base and said driving plate, the rear end of said magazine being pivotally connected to said cover adjacent the rear end thereof, said magazine having a staple feed mechanism disposed therein for longitudinally feeding staples toward the front end thereof, said magazine having openings therein coacting with said staple driving portion for permitting ejection of a single staple from said front end of said magazine, said base also having the rear end thereof pivotally connected to said rear end of said cover, the front end of said base being disposed adjacent said front end of said magazine and having anvil means formed thereon for coacting with the staple ejected from said magazine in response to relative pivotal movement between said magazine and said base, and a second cover having the rear end thereof hingedly connected to said rear end of said first-mentioned cover whereby said first-mentioned cover and said second cover can be hingedly moved toward one another into a closed position to form a closed chamber for completely surrounding and enclosing said stapling means, said base being pivotally connected relative to said second cover.

6. A stapler apparatus, comprising in combination, housing means including upper and lower cover members adapted to be fitted together to form a closed chamber, hinge means located adjacent the rear end of said housing means and interconnecting adjacent edges of said upper and lower cover members for permitting relative pivotal movement of said cover members away from one another, stapling means disposed within said housing means for permitting a staple to be injected into a selected article when said housing means is in an open condition, said stapling means including an upper pressing portion having a magazine adapted to contain a plurality of staples therein, said stapling means also including a base portion pivotally interconnected to said pressing portion for permitting relative pivotal movement between said magazine and said base portion, and means pivotally interconnecting said base portion relative to said lower cover member for permitting said lower cover member to be rotated away from said base portion and away from said upper cover member for permitting operation of said stapling means, said base portion being disposed within said lower cover member when said housing means is in a closed position.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said magazine and said base portion have their adjacent ends pivotally connected to said upper cover member adjacent the rear end of said housing for permitting said magazine and said base portion to pivotally move relative to one another and relative to said upper cover member, said stapling means also including a feeding mechanism disposed within said magazine for resiliently urging staples therealong toward the front end of said magazine, the front end of said base portion having anvil means formed thereon disposed for coaction with a staple ejected from said magazine for permitting said staple to be secured to said selected article, driving means coacting between said upper cover member and said magazine for ejecting the endmost staple from said magazine in response to relative pivotal movement of said upper cover member toward said magazine, first resilient means coacting between said upper cover member and said magazine for resiliently pivotally urging same away from one another into a normal inoperative position, and second resilient means coacting between said magazine and said base portion for resiliently pivotally urging same away from one another into a normal inoperative position.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said upper and lower cover members are both constructed of plastic and have opposed channel-shaped configurations with the op posite edges of said cover members being disposed in engagement with one another when said housing means is in said closed position, said hinge means comprising a straplike plastic hinge integrally connected to the adjacent ends of said upper and lower cover members at the rear end of said housing means, the front ends of said cover members having coacting locking means formed thereon for releasably maintaining said housing means in said closed position, said upper and lower cover members respectively having upper and lower walls spaced apart by a substantial distance to enable said first and second resilient means to maintain said magazine and said base portion spaced apart in their normal inoperative position when said housing means is closed.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, further including holder means disposed within said upper cover member and positioned between said upper cover member and said first resilient means, said holder means being adapted to store a plurality of spare staples therein. 

1. A stapler apparatus, comprising a base, a downwardly opening, substantially channel-shaped cover hingedly connected to said base, stapling means disposed between said cover and said base for permitting insertion of a staple into a selected article upon pivotal movement of said cover toward said base, said stapling means including a driving plate having a spring portion formed on one end thereof and a staple driving portion formed on the other end thereof, and holder means disposed between said plate and the upper inside surface of said cover for storing a plurality of spare staples therein.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cover has inwardly extending projections formed on the sidewalls thereof, said plate having a central portion supported on said projections for interconnecting said plate to said cover, and said holder means being supported on said central portion of said plate whereby said spring portion of said plate resiliently holds said holder means between said central portion and the upper inside surface of said cover.
 3. In a stapler apparatus having a base, a staple-holding magazine hingedly mounted on the base by a hinge pin, a cover also hingedly mounted on the base and disposed above the magazine, and a staple feed mechanism disposed within the magazine, the improvement wherein the feed mechanism includes a staple pushing member slideably disposed within the magazine and having an opening extending therethrough, and an elongated flexible staple guide rod constructed of plastic material and having one end thereof extending into the opening of said pushing member for permitting relative sliding movement therebetween, said one end of said rod being enlarged to prevent separation of said pushing member from said guide rod, and the other end of said guide rod having a recess formed therein for permitting said guide rod to be longitudinally slideably moved into engagement with and hingedly supported on said hinge pin, said hinge pin also hingedly connecting said magazine and said cover to said base.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cover has an opening in the front thereof, and closure means hingedly connected to the front end of said holder means adjacent said front end of said cover for covering the opening in said front end of said cover.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stapling means also includes a staple storage magazine disposed between said base and said driving plate, the rear end of said magazine being pivotally connected to said cover adjacent the rear end thereof, said magazine having a staple feed mechanism disposed therein for longitudinally feeding staples toward the front end thereof, said magazine having openings therein coacting with said staple driving portion for permitting ejection of a single staple from said front end of said magazine, said base also having the rear end thereof pivotally connected to said rear end of said cover, the front end of said base being disposed adjacent said front end of said magazine and having anvil means formed thereon for coacting with the staple ejected from said magazine in response to relative pivotal movement between said magazine and said base, and a second cover having the rear end thereof hingedly connected to said rear end of said first-mentioned cover whereby said first-mentioned cover and said second cover can be hingedly moved toward one another into a closed position to form a closed chamber for completely surrounding and enclosing said stapling means, said base being pivotally connected relative to said second cover.
 6. A stapler apparatus, comprising in combination, housing means including upper and lower cover members adapted to be fitted together to form a closed chamber, hinge means located adjacent the rear end of said housing means and interconnecting adjacent edges of said upper and lower cover members for permitting relAtive pivotal movement of said cover members away from one another, stapling means disposed within said housing means for permitting a staple to be injected into a selected article when said housing means is in an open condition, said stapling means including an upper pressing portion having a magazine adapted to contain a plurality of staples therein, said stapling means also including a base portion pivotally interconnected to said pressing portion for permitting relative pivotal movement between said magazine and said base portion, and means pivotally interconnecting said base portion relative to said lower cover member for permitting said lower cover member to be rotated away from said base portion and away from said upper cover member for permitting operation of said stapling means, said base portion being disposed within said lower cover member when said housing means is in a closed position.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said magazine and said base portion have their adjacent ends pivotally connected to said upper cover member adjacent the rear end of said housing for permitting said magazine and said base portion to pivotally move relative to one another and relative to said upper cover member, said stapling means also including a feeding mechanism disposed within said magazine for resiliently urging staples therealong toward the front end of said magazine, the front end of said base portion having anvil means formed thereon disposed for coaction with a staple ejected from said magazine for permitting said staple to be secured to said selected article, driving means coacting between said upper cover member and said magazine for ejecting the endmost staple from said magazine in response to relative pivotal movement of said upper cover member toward said magazine, first resilient means coacting between said upper cover member and said magazine for resiliently pivotally urging same away from one another into a normal inoperative position, and second resilient means coacting between said magazine and said base portion for resiliently pivotally urging same away from one another into a normal inoperative position.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said upper and lower cover members are both constructed of plastic and have opposed channel-shaped configurations with the opposite edges of said cover members being disposed in engagement with one another when said housing means is in said closed position, said hinge means comprising a straplike plastic hinge integrally connected to the adjacent ends of said upper and lower cover members at the rear end of said housing means, the front ends of said cover members having coacting locking means formed thereon for releasably maintaining said housing means in said closed position, said upper and lower cover members respectively having upper and lower walls spaced apart by a substantial distance to enable said first and second resilient means to maintain said magazine and said base portion spaced apart in their normal inoperative position when said housing means is closed.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 7, further including holder means disposed within said upper cover member and positioned between said upper cover member and said first resilient means, said holder means being adapted to store a plurality of spare staples therein. 